Updated 2016 Roadmap

We’re now halfway through 2016, and that means it’s time for an update on the 2016 roadmap we shared at the beginning of the year.

What’s Completed?

1. Virtual Reality

This was a big one for us. Our recent blog post gathered some of the really amazing feedback we’ve been receiving about Universe Sandbox ² in VR.

We’re very proud of the results, and look forward to continually improving the VR experience. Check out the trailer below.

2. Tidal Forces

The new tidal heating and Roche limit effects add another element of realism to Universe Sandbox ², and they also look really cool. In Alpha 19, bodies now heat up and can be torn apart by tidal forces if they approach other bodies closely enough.

3. New Object Models

You’ve probably heard of the Great Pyramid of Giza, but have you ever seen it floating through space? Below is a preview of some of the pyramid blocks which will be available, but of course we’re also adding in the whole pyramid.

We’ve also added improved models for the New Horizons probe and the third stage of the Saturn V rocket, as well as a new, shiny police box. See more.

4. Bug Fixes

Our new Quality Assurance team member, Steven, has been busy testing, tracking down bugs, and assuring that when those bugs are squashed, we’re not inadvertently breaking anything else.

With Steven’s help, and the help of our new developer, Jonathan, we’ve been able to fix a big list of long-standing issues. For a complete list of what’s been fixed, see our release notes.

What’s Next for 2016 and Beyond?

1. Alpha 19

We’re rounding the corner on Alpha 19, which should include the tidal forces, new models, and bug fixes mentioned above, as well as some beautiful new supernova visuals.

2. VR Update

Right now the VR version is separate from the desktop version, so Alpha 19 will only be a desktop update. But we’ve been looking at feedback on the VR version, and we plan to address some of these issues with a small VR update after we release Alpha 19.

For example, this should help with local temperatures, like impact and laser heating; terrain deformation; and, further down the line, life simulation

Total body fragmentation

Combined with the new tidal forces and explosion effects in Alpha 19, total body fragmentation should be a very impressive effect

Merged VR and desktop versions

After merging we’ll be able to release updates for VR and desktop simultaneously, and more easily integrate features for both versions

Complete feature parity for the VR interface will take longer, but this is an important step in that direction

Rewritten user interface

Allows for scaling the interface for higher resolutions and…

Language localization (coming later)

4. Alpha 21 & Beyond

After Alpha 20, we’ll be setting our sights on some even bigger projects:

Stellar evolution

The new model supports 16 star types, versus the previous 5

The result should be more dynamic and accurate properties for stars, as well as smoother transitions between types

If we’re lucky, we’ll have this ready for Alpha 20, but a safer bet is Alpha 21

Life simulation

There’s a lot of planning to do on this, but the Automata tech coming in Alpha 20 should help pave the way for the beginnings of life simulation

Space megastructures

These accidentally made it into an experimental build of Alpha 19, and if you had a chance to see them, you know that they’re very cool, but they still need a lot of work before they are more interactive and less CPU-hungry

Mobile

We just hired a dedicated mobile developer, Dave Nelson, who will be working full-steam on a mobile version of Universe Sandbox ²

This is still in preliminary phases and we don’t have a timeline for release yet

Steam Workshop support

Being able to share saved simulations and objects will open up the creative potential even more

Language localization

We’re very happy with the progress we’ve made so far in 2016. And we’re very excited for what’s in store for the rest of 2016. We hope you share our enthusiasm for exploring this crazy and ambitious project.

When do you think Alpha 20 and 21 will be released? Near the end of 2016? I have a mac and ever since I got the game, I’ve had the problem where there would be no 3D craters or even craters at all when something is launched into a planet. I really hope one of these Alphas will fix this, it takes away a lot of fun for me.

Ah, sorry, I didn’t know you had already sent in a log. The additional data from a newer alpha version may be useful for us, but at this point it would be best to wait until Alpha 19 to send in another log if the issue is still there.

Alpha 20 would probably will be released in twenty-seventeen (2017) because look at how we will wait on 19x because they said that alpha 19 will be released in april! they did release a beta preview called “19×1” but that wasn’t the full release! anyway I don’t think they will make a timline about when US2 20 will be released until the full 19 will come out! which won’t be in July it will be in fall probably!

I would re-categorize the “Alpha 20” To something else, including Alpha 21 cause it is in the “What’s Next For 2016” So… You don’t make people think it will be in 2016 and not after so I would recommend re-categorizing it.

Well what would happen if mars was in a collison course to us! before 19×4 mars would die because he is smaller. after 19×4 though mars would die first and then earth would die too! Why because if a planet heats up to a million Kelvin it would melt iron, silicon ect.

Is it possible to add tidal flooding. So let’s say that the moon comes closer to Earth, but it is just outside the Roche limit. Is it possible to add Earth flooding as a result of the moon being closer?

Everything is sounding great so far. An idea for a later version of the game would be to show tectonic plate movement such as a simulation on earth from pangaea and how earth looks now and even maybe simulate how earth would look in a million years from now.